Gapo netters battle it out in Olivarez-Philta Open Tennis Championship

Olivarez tennis: Junior netter Mendoza ousts 3rd seed Tierro

Jurence Mendoza

Unranked Jurence Mendoza showed Patrick John Tierro the exit door when the junior netter scored a 6-3, 6-4 upset win over his third-seeded foe in the 1st Olivarez-Philta Open Tennis Championship at the Olivarez Sports Center in Sucat, Parañaque City.

The 15-year-old Mendoza, a member of the Philippine Davis Cup team, secured his quarterfinals spot with the win and will next face sixth-ranked Ralph Kevin Barte in the Last 8.

Mendoza, an Olongapo City-native, startled Tierro with his forehand winners and serves as he virtually put on a clinic against the veteran campaigner.

"I expected him to be a tough opponent so I gave my best effort and the same time I tried to minimize my errors," said Mendoza, who took the title in the 2010 Phinma International Juniors last December.

Barte, his quarterfinals opponent, cruised to an easy 6-1, 6-1 win against Joshua Tan Ho.

Top seed Johnny Arcilla and No. 2 Elbert Anasta also earned quarterfinals spots after dispatching their respective foes. Arcilla downed Antonio Sagansay III, 6-3, 6-0, while Anasta beat Arvin Ruel, 6-4, 6-3.

Other quarterfinalists are Joseph Victorino, Ronard Joven, Rolando Ruel Jr. and Celestino Solonn.

Victorino defeated Mark Anthony Alcoseba, 6-4, 6-2; Joven thumped Alexander Lazaro, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1; Ruel trounced Pablo Olivarez II, 6-4, 6-1; and Solon overpowered Kim Ivor Saraza, 6-3, 6-1.

In men's doubles, the top-seeded pair of Arcilla and Tierro powered through to the next round via a 6-4, 6-0 win over Rollie Anasta and Betto Orendain.

Anasta and Olivarez will be joining them in the next round after the duo survived Joshua Miranda and Dennis Vitalliano's gallant stand, 6-3, 7-6 (3).

Also advancing into the next round are Russel Arcilla Sr. and Russel Jr. after the father and son tandem pulled off a 6-3, 6-3 win over No. 2 pair of Lazaro and Ruel.

Alcoseba and Barte joined the quarterfinals' club with a hard-earned 6-3, 2-6, 12-10 win over Victorino and Jacob Lagman.

Mendoza teamed up with Sean Talmadge in beating Juvan Divinagracia and Kenneth Salvo, 6-2, 6-1. - JVP, GMA News